Method for controlling a plurality of units networked to give a network, and network comprising a plurality of networked units

ABSTRACT

In a network, for example, a ring-type MOST network installed in a vehicle, a plurality of units— a master unit (M) as well as a plurality of slave units oo (S)— are networked, preferably through an optical data bus (D), and connected through supply lines (L) to a central voltage source such as the on-board battery of the et) vehicle. In order to enhance the operational reliability, error diagnostics, and overall performance of the network, data are also transmitted through the supply lines (L)—for example, diagnostic data for error diagnostics or update data to update the individual units (M, S). The invention is especially suited for use in a motor vehicle.

The invention relates to a method for controlling a plurality of unitsnetworked through a data bus to create a network.

The invention additionally relates to a network comprising a pluralityof units networked through a data bus.

A variety of networking concepts exists for installation in motorvehicles, which link distributed system functions of multimedia systems,for example, the so-called MOST network which networks a plurality ofunits such as a radio receiver, CD player, DVD player, cassette player,navigation device, mobile telephone, television receiver, displayscreen, audio system—to name only a few examples—through an electricalor optical data bus.

MOST, the acronym that stands for Media Oriented System Transport, orMedia Oriented Synchronous Transfer, is the designation both for amultimedia network and a standard developed specifically for applicationin motor vehicles, but not restricted to this area of application.

Although MOST networks operate in a consistent and reliable fashion, itis nevertheless desirable to enhance their operational reliability.

The goal of the invention is therefore to enhance the performance,specifically, the operational reliability and error diagnostics, of anetwork comprising a plurality of units networked together.

In terms of a method, this goal is achieved by the features indicated inclaim 1, whereby the units are connected through the supply lines to acentral voltage source, and whereby the supply lines are also used totransmit data.

In terms of a device, this goal is achieved by the features indicated inclaim 13, whereby the units are connected through supply lines to acentral voltage source, and whereby the supply lines may also be used totransmit data.

With the procedure according to the invention using the supply linesboth for the voltage supply and for the transmission of data, theoperational reliability of the network according to the invention issignificantly enhanced.

In one embodiment of the invention, the supply lines are utilized fordata transmission whenever errors in the transmission of data occur onthe data bus. In the event errors occur, diagnostic data for errordiagnostics are transmitted to the individual units.

In another embodiment, which is preferably combined with the previousembodiment, data for an update are sent to the individual units of thenetwork through the supply lines.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the units networked to eachother within the network are controlled through the supply lines.

For example, it is possible to connect the network through the supplylines to a second network.

A coaxial cable or an optical cable, for example, may be provided forthe data bus.

The data rate selected for the supply lines is, for example, lower thanon the data bus.

An especially advantageous approach is to design the central voltagesource as an intelligent control unit which itself actively participatesin data communications through the supply lines. For example informationis transmitted to the units of the network about the status of thevehicle electrical distribution system. It is possible to implement aso-called intelligent power management that controls the load of thevehicle electrical distribution system.

In the network according to the invention, preferably, a master unit anda plurality of slave units are networked.

The network may, for example, be in the form of a MOST network, a D2Bnetwork, or an IEEE1394 network.

The following discussion explains the invention in more detail based onthe figure.

In the figure, a plurality of units—a master unit M and a plurality ofslave units—are networked through an optical data bus D. The network is,for example, in the form of a MOST network and is installed in a motorvehicle. Master unit M and slave units S are connected through supplylines L to the car battery B. Since all the M and S units are connectedto a central voltage source, the car battery, they are also networkedcompletely relative to each other through supply lines L. The supplyline system thus represents a second network through which data can betransferred both to and between the individual M and S units.

As was already mentioned, the network of supply lines can be utilizedfor the transmission of data only in the event of errors on the databus. However, it is also possible to utilize it as well for thetransmission of update data to update individual M and S units. Inaddition, the network comprising connection lines L can also beconnected to another network. The data rate selected for the supplylines is, for example, lower than on the data bus. The central voltagesource is preferably in the form of an intelligent control unit which isintegrated into the data communications through the supply lines, withthe result, for example, that information about the status of theelectrical distribution system of the vehicle can be transmitted to theindividual units linked in the network. By implementing powermanagement, as it is known, it is possible to control the load of thevehicle electrical distribution system.

The method according to the invention and network according to theinvention are especially suitable for application in a motor vehiclesince the supply line network is already available in any case, and forthis reason, there is no need to install additional copper wiring.

List of Reference Notations

-   B battery-   D data bus-   L supply line-   M master unit-   S slave unit

1. A Mmethod for controlling a plurality of units networked through adata bus to create a network, comprising: providing power to the unitsthrough supply lines, wherein the units are connected through the supplylines to a central voltage source, and that the supply lines rare alsoutilized for the transmission of data.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe network is configured and arranged as a ring-shaped network.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein data are transmitted through the supply linesonly in the event thaterrors occur during the transmission of data onthe data bus.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein diagnostic data toimplement error diagnostics are transmitted through the supply lines. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein data for an update are transmitted to theindividual units of the network through the supply lines.
 6. The methodof claim 1, comprising controlling the units through the supply lines.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the supply lines of the network areprovided to implement a connection to another network.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein an optical bus is provided as the data bus.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a master unit and aplurality of slave units are networked.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein a MOST network, a D2B network, or an IEEE1394 network isprovided as the network. 11 . The method of claim 1, wherein the networkis configured and arranged for installation in a vehicle.
 12. Themnethod of claim 11, wherein an on-board battery is provided as thecentral voltage source for the units.
 13. The method of claim 1, whereinthe central voltage source is implemented as an intelligent control unitthat participates in data communications through the supply lines. 14.The method of claim 12, wherein the load of the central voltage sourceis controlled.
 15. A network comprising a plurality of units networkedthrough a data bus, wherein the units are connected through supply linesto a central voltage source, and that the supply lines can also be usedto transmit data.
 16. The network of claim 15, wherein the network isconfigured and arranged as a ring-shaped network.
 17. The network ofclaim
 15. wherein data can be transmitted through the supply lines onlywhen errors occur during the transmission of data on the data bus. 18.The method of claim 17, wherein diagnostic data to implement errordiagnostics can be transmitted through the supply lines.
 19. The networkof claim 15, wherein data for an update can be transmitted to theindividual units of the network through the supply lines.
 20. Thenetwork of claim 16, wherein the units can be controlled through thesupply lines.
 21. The network of claim 20, wherein the network can beconnected through the supply lines to another network.
 22. The networkof claim 21, wherein the data bus (D) comprises an optical bus.
 23. Thenetwork of claim 22, wherein the network comprises a master unit and aplurality of slave units that are networked.
 24. The network of claim23, wherein the network is configured and arranged as a MOST network, aD2B network, or an IEEE 1394 network.
 25. The network of claim 24,wherein the network is provided for installation in a vehicle.
 26. Thenetwork of claim 25, wherein the central voltage source comprises anon-board battery (B) of the vehicle.
 27. The network of claim 26,wherein the central voltage source comprises an intelligent control unitthat is connected through the supply lines to the data communicationssystem.
 28. The network of claim 27, wherein the load of the centralvoltage source is controllable.
 29. The network of claim 28, wherein thedata rate selected on the supply lines is lower than on the data bus.